Lebanon: Pagers Explode Killing, Injuring Thousands of Hezbollah Members and Civilians

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Facts

  • At least nine people were killed and more than 3K injured in Lebanon on Tuesday when pagers used by Hezbollah members to communicate exploded across the country, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Iran's ambassador to Lebanon was injured in the attack, and an eight-year-old girl was also killed.[1][2]
  • Pagers also reportedly exploded in some regions of Syria, including the Seyedeh Zeinab neighborhood of Damascus, to which Hezbollah deployed during Syria's civil war to protect the Shiite shrine located there.[3][4]
  • More than 200 people across Lebanon are reportedly in critical condition, with injuries mostly reported to the face, hands, and stomach. Hezbollah blamed Israel for the attack, vowing to respond. Israel's military has not commented on the attack.[5]
  • Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called the attack a 'criminal Israeli aggression, which constitutes a serious violation of Lebanese sovereignty and a crime by all standards.'[6]
  • The attack comes after Israel's security cabinet voted on Monday to add another war goal to its list of objectives for the conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah — to ensure the safe return of residents from the border regions with Lebanon who have been displaced by Hezbollah attacks.[6]
  • Separately, Israel's Shin Bet intelligence agency said on Tuesday that it had foiled a Hezbollah plot to assassinate a former senior Israeli security official using a remotely detonated explosive device. Fighting along the Lebanese border began shortly after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, with the situation slowly escalating since then. Civilians have been displaced from both sides of the border.[7]

Sources: [1]Guardian, [2]Reuters, [3]New York Times, [4]Csis, [5]Al Jazeera, [6]CNN and [7]Timesofisrael.

Narratives

  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Though Israel has not taken credit for this well-planned operation, it should demonstrate to Hezbollah and its patrons in Tehran that it cannot withstand an Israeli assault. The group's highly-trained and well-equipped ranks have been thrown into chaos, and its vulnerability has never been so clear. Hezbollah should end its terrorist attacks on Israel if it seeks to protect Lebanon.
  • Pro-Iran narrative, as provided by Almayadeen. This attack against Lebanon is a clear example of Israeli terrorism in the region and its disregard for human life. Both Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah will investigate the security failures that led to this attack, and a response is guaranteed. Hezbollah is ready and able to defend Lebanon from Israeli aggression.

Predictions